The Varsity Blues football team kicks off their 2013 regular season campaign versus the Western Mustangs this Sunday, August 25 at Varsity Centre at 1 p.m.
 
The game will be streamed live and live stats will be available at varsityblues.ca. Tickets can be purchased in advance here.
 
Let's take a look at the 2013 squad:
 
WHO'S GONE
Defensive lineman James Bodanis; linebacker Broc Elliott; offensive linemen Mario Tedesco and Shawn Horrigan; fullback Stephan Boroniec; kicker Andrew Lomasney.
 
WHO'S BACK
Receivers Paul de Pass and Alex Pierzchalski; quarterback Chris Jugovic; fullback Dylan Howes; offensive lineman Aaron Wheaton; defensive lineman Everton Williams; defensive backs Kevin Kinahan and Trevor Harvey; linebacker Dylan Gordon; special teams captain Harrison Beeforth; kick and punt returner Kevin Bradfield.
 
WHO'S NEW
Offensive linemen Danny Sprukulis, Chris Heim and Phil Heim; slotback Dominic Batastella; linebackers Brittley Mokube and Michael Leslie; defensive back Paul Kozachuck; kicker Stephan Pallota.
 
Offence
 
Fourth and fifth-year veteran receivers Alex Pierzchalski and Paul de Pass will once again be key targets down the field, both having notched career-high performances in 2012. De Pass has ranked among the top five receivers in the country in yards per catch over the last three seasons and in 2012, cracked U of T's top 10 career receiving yards list. Pierzchalski led the team in receptions for the past two seasons and represented U of T at the 2013 East West Bowl in London, Ont., in May.
 
All eyes will be on sophomore pivot Chris Jugovic, who is expected to make the start in the Blues season opener versus Western on Aug. 25. The Burlington, Ont., native will be backed up by a duo of very capable third-year quarterbacks in Richard Quittenton and Simon Nassar.
 
Second-yard running back Lukas Gavac moves into a starting role this season. He ranked second on the team with 37 carries and third in rushing yards in 2012. Another promising running back is rookie Alex Malone and fourth-year veteran Dylan Howes makes the switch from linebacker to fullback in 2013.
 
At 6-foot-5, 295 pounds, fourth-year veteran Aaron Wheaton leads Toronto's offensive line. He, along with Lawrence Hopper, Kevin Williams and Jason Harrison will be relied on to step up big for the Blues offence and protect their quarterback. Toronto has also added talented rookies Danny Sprukulis and twin brothers Chris and Phil Heim, who will challenge for a spot on the line this season.
 
Defence
 
For the second straight year, the Blues return 3-of-4 top defensive linemen, including Everton Williams, Abbey Olusoga and Zack Lukings. Aaron Jervis is expected to step into a starting role after a solid rookie season in 2012. They are all hungry to learn from new defensive coordinator Greg Knox, who joins the Blues from the 2012 OUA Yates Cup champion McMaster Marauders.
 
Linebacker Dylan Gordon is coming off a breakout season that saw him lead the team and rank seventh in the province with 45 tackles. Veterans Christopher Johnson and Harrison Beeforth are also back to steer Toronto's defensive unit and will be relied upon to guide promising recruits Brittley Mokube and Michael Leslie through their first seasons in the Blue and White.
 
Kevin Kinahan, Dave Green and Trevor Harvey comprise Toronto's secondary. The trio combined for 73 tackles, and second-year standout John Connors is sure to make his presence felt again after ranking second on the team with 38 tackles in 2012.  
 
Special Teams
 
Special teams is a critical piece of a winning puzzle and the Blues return, and add, some key pieces to that puzzle.
 
Kevin Bradfield had a breakout season after topping the CIS in kick return yardage (698) and also ranked first in the OUA with 355 punt return yards.
 
Harrison Beeforth plays on all five special team units and was named the team's most inspirational player in 2012. Marcus Hobbs will resume punting duties this season, while rookie walk-on Stephen Pallota, a former top level provincial soccer player, is hoping to make an immediate impact as the team's new place kicker.

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